Las Vegan Kyle Busch had a rough outing for the second consecutive week last week in Dover. We used to discuss things associated with Kyle, and consecutive, as wins and top 5’s, but now we’re discussing poor outings and the chase.

Kyle is currently dead last in the Chase, 210 points behind the leader. The largest deficit any eventual Champion ever came back from in the Chase was 165 points done by Jimmie Johnson in 2006. It seems so far out of reach, but in a weird way, it seems achievable, especially for Kyle Busch.

You would think that Kyle Busch’s odds would fall into the also ran area. Last week after a poor run, Busch was still a respectable 5/2. This week after another poor run his odds are at 8/1. The sole reason for the respect is basically because of what we all witnessed this season with Busch. He and his team have the ability to reel off three wins in a row and take 5 of 6, he’s that scary good. Just because it hasn’t been done before doesn’t mean Busch can’t do it, because he’s proved the odds wrong eight times in 28 races this season.

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I think he’s a long shot, but just the hint of what he’s capable of makes him an attractive wager at anything over 8 to 1. He’ll be good this week and then the following week he’s at Talladega where he’ll easily have the best car. A couple good runs and a few wins with some unfortunate finishes for others at a tough track like Talladega, then Kyle is right back in the mix. There is a lot help needed for him, but crazier things have happened…..Actually, no, there hasn’t been anything crazier.

The driver who rolls into this week’s race in Kansas City, Kansas with the swagger of a feared Dodge City gunslinger is Greg Biffle. Two races out of the gate, and two wins for Biffle. He sits tied for second with Johnson, only 10 points behind Carl Edwards. Should Biffle win the Championship, he would become the only driver to ever win a title in all three of NASCAR’s major series. He won the Truck Championship in 2000 and then took the Busch Series title in 2002, all while driving for Jack Roush.

Can Biffle make it three in a row this week? Well, let’s do the math. He won this race last season and has the best driver rating of any driver at Kansas over the last five seasons. He’s got all the momentum, his crew has been re-energized, and he’s got the cat in the hat ready to give him the best car possible, maybe even more so than Edwards because of the length of their relationship. I’d say his chances are pretty good of taking three in a row and the odds reflect it. Johnson, Busch, Edwards, and Biffle have all been installed as co-favorites to win at 6/1 each.

Kansas Speedway is in the classic cookie cutter mold with 15 degrees of banking in the turns and lots of room on the 1.5 mile tri-oval. It’s different from many of the other tracks and has its own traits, but can be closely linked to Chicagoland if pressed to find a like-facility.

Just to re-visit that Chicagoland race held back in July, Jimmie Johnson had a pretty large lead late in the race when a caution came out. Kyle Busch was in second and quick on re-starts but not as good as Johnson on the long runs. Busch passed Johnson and won his 7th race of the season up to that point. Other drivers that did well in that race were Biffle, Kevin Harvick, Tony Stewart, and Brian Vickers. Carl Edwards was a factor as well but had an equipment issue late that forced him out of contention.

Let's go with past history and current situations to determine this weeks choices. A very Vanilla and unsatisfying bunch of choices, but its hard to recommend anyone else but those. The best value out there will likely be Harvick in the 20/1 area. The two other Childress drivers should be solid as well. Clint Bowyer finished 2nd last season and also happens to be from Emporia, Kansas which should give some incentive.

On the same note from a local feel, both Jamie McMurray and Carl Edwards are from Missouri and call this their home track.

Top 5 Finish Prediction:
1) #48 Jimmie Johnson (6/1)
2) #18 Kyle Busch (6/1)
3) #99 Carl Edwards (6/1)
4) #16 Greg Biffle (6/1)
5) #20 Tony Stewart (12/1)

Micah Roberts is the Race and Sports Director for Station Casinos in Las Vegas , Nevada, who covers motor sports from both a bettor and bookmaker's perspective.